Ceretto calls on Western New York's congressional delegation to stand up for religious freedom

by jmaloni

Tue, Feb 7th 2012 04:55 pm

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston,
today sent a letter to Western New York's congressional delegation urging them
to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179/S. 1467). Ceretto
remarked that the measure would ensure that those who participate in the health
care system retain the right to provide, purchase or enroll in health coverage
that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions.

The letter is
in response to a decision last week by the federal Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) to implement a narrow religious exemption for affiliated
religious institutions such as hospitals and universities under the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The policy change would require
Catholic and other religious institutions to abandon their doctrines on
reproductive issues or face catastrophic fines.

"As a Catholic
and a lawmaker, I am deeply concerned by the new coverage mandate put forth by
HHS and its effect on religious schools, hospitals and nonprofit groups," Ceretto
said. "I fear that, if religious exemption clauses are not expanded for
employers, we will be forcing religious institutions to carry out procedures
and promote policies, which run counter to their constitutionally protected
beliefs or face severe fines that could lead to the closure of thousands of
health care-provider facilities.

"Moreover, it
is troubling to me that the Obama administration is using health care as a
stalking horse to push a secular, anti-religious agenda into the homes, schools
and hospitals of individuals who vehemently disagree with these policies based
on their own beliefs and convictions," Ceretto said.

"We must
prevent the federal government from violating the First Amendment rights of
Western New Yorkers under the guise of expanding health care to all Americans,"
he added. "I strongly urge our local congressional delegation to take up this
fight in Congress and expand the religious exemption clause within PPACA
today."